#METOO and Coming to Terms With Trauma

If you watched the Golden Globe Awards, you may have been inspired by solidarity amongst actresses, the black dresses, and the electric feeling of change. The #MeToo movement is very real and has had an incredible domino effect of bringing national attention to sexual harassment and assault that so many women have experienced. In fact, the #MeToo movement was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, and has resulted in the stunning career downfalls of powerful men, like Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., and Al Franken.

When Oprah accepted the Cecil B DeMille award at the Golden Globes ceremony, she gave a stirring speech that brought on calls for her to run for president. In it, she stated that she was “especially proud and inspired by all the women who have felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories.” She also aptly noted that #MeToo is “not just a story affecting the entertainment industry”, but is “one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace.”

Significantly, Oprah said:

So I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue. They’re the women whose names we’ll never know. They are domestic workers and farm workers. They are working in factories and they work in restaurants and they’re in academia, engineering, medicine, and science. They’re part of the world of tech and politics and business. They’re our athletes in the Olympics and they’re our soldiers in the military.

#MeToo and Your Own Experience

This brings us to our point: your story is your own to tell and no one else’s. You don’t have to share your trauma unless you want to. This may seem peculiar, but resist peer pressure to tell your story. Instead, speak with a trusted friend or counselor to make sure that you feel emotionally safe and ready to share your experience.

And as Oprah alluded to, although many celebrity women are coming forward and sharing their stories, women who lack millions of Twitter followers or celebrity power are still not in a position to get the justice they richly desire. So just because Harvey Weinstein was taken down, does not mean that the person who harmed you will face a similar downfall. It is also notable that the #MeToo movement has yet to translate into a change in the law regarding workplace sexual harassment.

Contact New Direction Family Law

At New Direction Family Law, we guide clients through the legal process of separation and divorce. We recognize that these are incredibly turbulent times and that there are legitimate reasons why you want to get divorced. Our attorneys have twenty years of combined legal experience and will work with you to determine your new direction. Call our office today at (919) 719-3470 to schedule a consultation or visit us at our website.